“They’ve been in our bedrooms long enough, and it’s time to let the adults decide what is best for us, it’s time for queers to decide what’s best for us.”

Health researcher Daniel Reeders said the ban “will expose a historically marginalised, stigmatised and criminalised community to a new vulnerability to criminal prosecution.”

“Poppers have been in use for nearly five decades with very few reports of serious harm, and recent case reports describe a previously undocumented form of harm,” Reeders writes.

“This suggests the harm is the result of the reformulated products, which were only adopted due to regulatory action.”

Palmer appeared alongside Noffs Foundation chief Matt Noffs to urge a rethink of our approach to the substance use, saying harm minimisation has proven to be more effective than regulation and policing.

Australia is in the midst of a debate over harm minimisation versus ‘zero tolerance’ policing of drugs following the deaths of two attendees of music festival Defqon.1 last week.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berijiklian has vowed to put an end to the festival rather than consider a national pill-testing rollout at festivals despite a successful trial at Canberra’s Groovin’ the Moo earlier this year.

Palmer said he is personally in favour of decriminalisation of drugs for “use and possession”.

“Without question, it seems to me that the perception of community fear drives political resistance to change,” he said.

“As a leading European politician said some years ago, we all know what to do, we just don’t know how to get re-elected after we do it.”

About the AuthorLaurence Barber

Laurence is Star Observer's Arts & Culture Writer and Digital Co-ordinator. His background is in film, television and arts criticism with a focus on LGBTI representation in media. For jokes, commentary and actress GIFs, you can follow him on Twitter @bortlb.